Written question asked by Graham Allen (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 July 2007. It was answered by Helen Goodman (Labour) on Thursday, 26 July 2007 on behalf of the Leader of the House of Commons.

Draft Legislative Programme

Question: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the oral statement by the Prime Minister of 11 July 2007, Official Report, columns 1449-51, on the draft legislative programme, how many Bills she is preparing for pre-legislative scrutiny in the new Session; and if she will make it her policy that all Bills will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny unless a particular reason is given for a Bill not being so subject.

Answer: It is hoped to announce the planned draft Bills for next session at the beginning of the session in the normal way. Plans for draft Bills are more tentative than those for Bills expected to be introduced into the main programme and it is too soon to give an indication of a likely number of such Bills at this stage. Some indication of Bills being considered for publication in draft is given in Chapter 3 of the White Paper on the Government's Draft Legislative Programme (Cm 7175, P19).As I indicated to the hon. Member in answer to an earlier question at Official Report 25 July 2007 column 1122, the Government endeavour to subject Bills to pre-legislative scrutiny, where timing and other constraints allow. Where a Bill is introduced which has not been published in draft the reasons for this will frequently be clear.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 463 c1420W; 153073
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Draft Legislative Programme
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Legislative process Legislative drafting Parliamentary scrutiny
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk